U.S. patent number 4,174,037 [Application Number 05/928,547] was granted by the patent office on 1979-11-13 for space-conserving skin-packed assembly.
This patent grant is currently assigned to National Hand Tool Corporation. Invention is credited to Kirk K. Chow.
United States Patent |
4,174,037 |
Chow |
November 13, 1979 |
Space-conserving skin-packed assembly
Abstract
A packaging assembly in which hardware items such as hand tools
are secured in place on a supporting base or board by means of skin
packing techniques, the final package to be inserted into a
container such as a metal tool box. The invention is characterized
in that the skin packing is carried out so that the bonding of the
overlying film is effected in opposed marginal areas, these areas
then being folded underneath the supporting board on which the
tools are secured so that, in the final assembly, which is to be
inserted in a tool box, there is no "waste" space, the entire floor
area being occupied by tool elements.
Inventors: |
Chow; Kirk K. (Dallas, TX) |
Assignee: |
National Hand Tool Corporation
(Dallas, TX)
|
Family
ID: |
25456398 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/928,547 |
Filed: |
July 27, 1978 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/378;
206/471 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
75/305 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
75/28 (20060101); B65D 75/30 (20060101); B65D
085/28 () |
Field of
Search: |
;206/378,471,45.34 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Hall; George T.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Berkman; Michael G.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In the packaging of hardware items such as hand tools to house
and display tools in a container such as a rigid tool box or
carrying case, a space-conserving covered package assembly, said
package assembly sized to fit within the tool box with peripheral
borders of said package in close proximity to upstanding bounding
walls of said tool box,
said package assembly comprising:
baseboard means of semi-rigid sheet stock for support of tool
elements placed thereon,
the shape and areal configuration of said baseboard means being
essentially congruous to a floor area of a case in which said
package assembly is to be inserted,
floor sheet means for attachment of a tool retaining film thereto,
said floor sheet means extending laterally beyond said baseboard
means at a pair of opposed parallel edges thereof to demark a pair
of fold lines and to delineate a corresponding pair of flanges
extending marginally along said floor means and outwardly of said
opposed side edges of said baseboard means along the length
thereof,
a plurality of tool elements arranged on said floor sheet means
interiorly of said fold lines and in a zone corresponding to said
baseboard means, said tool elements being supported on said
baseboard means,
a cover film of transparent plastic superimposed on so as snugly to
confine said tool elements for securing said tool elements fixed in
place in said package assembly,
bonding means bonding said film to said flanges of said floor sheet
means over a substantial surface area of said flanges,
said flanges with said film bonded thereto being folded under said
baseboard means at said fold lines to lie contiguously against said
baseboard means at an undersurface thereof,
whereby substantially the entire floor area of the case is occupied
by said tool elements to effect substantial conservation of space
and to provide a pilfer-resistant display.
2. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said baseboard
means and said floor sheet means are of a unitary construction.
3. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said floor sheet
means and said baseboard means are distinct elements, and wherein
said floor sheet means is bonded to said baseboard means over
substantially the entire areal expanse thereof.
4. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cover film is
a heat-shrinkable film contoured to engage and bear upon said tool
elements arranged on said floor sheet means.
5. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cover film
includes strip portions linearly coextensive with and extending
laterally beyond said flanges to which said film is bonded.
6. A method of forming a space conserving, secured package assembly
of tool elements and the like, said method comprising:
superimposing bendable floor sheet means on a semirigid underlying
baseboard means to cover an expanse of said baseboard means, and to
provide a pair of laterally opposed marginal portions of said floor
sheet means projecting beyond parallelly extending lateral limits
of said baseboard means, thereby to define a pair of flanges
extending laterally along substantially the entire length of said
baseboard means and outwardly therefrom,
placing at least one tool element on said floor sheet means in an
areal zone thereof overlying said baseboard means to occupy a
substantial portion of said areal zone,
positioning a transparent plastic film over said tool element and
said floor sheet means,
shaping said film over to confine said tool element, and bonding
said film to said marginal portions of said floor sheet means to
encase said tool element,
folding said flanges with said film attached thereto under said
baseboard means along opposed side edges thereof to provide a
compact, unitary package assembly in which essentially the entire
area of said baseboard means is occupied by said tool element,
and
placing said assembly in a box having a floor area essentially
congruous to the area of said baseboard means to provide a
pilfer-proof package display of said tool element.
7. The method as set forth in claim 6 and further comprising the
step of securing said floor sheet means to said underlying
baseboard means prior to placement of said tool element on said
floor sheet means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improved skin package assembly
of the type widely employed in the display and protection of
articles including tool elements such as wrench and socket
sets.
More particularly, the invention finds utility in the packaging of
such tool items as are ultimately to be contained in a metal tool
box or the like, as a composite display sealed to maintain an
ordered arrangement and to minimize pilferage.
Heretofore, it has been the practice, in the preparation of skin
packed assemblies for ultimate insertion into principal containers
such as metal tool boxes, to provide boxes which are considerably
larger in floor area than the actual area occupied by the tools
themselves. This has been deemed necessary in order to accommodate
the marginal sealing zones in which the transparent plastic film is
bonded to the underlying tool supporting substrate. It is to a
simple yet unobvious improvement in packaging so as to effect
material conservation of space and to obviate wasted space that the
instant invention is directed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a principal feature of the present invention that there is
provided an improved packaging assembly of the type using "skin
packing" techniques but in which certain disadvantages of the
technique have been avoided.
Specifically, it is an important feature of the present invention
that the tools or other items which are secured in place on the
backing member occupy substantially the entire floor area of that
backing member.
The subject invention finds particular utility in the packaging of
tool elements such as socket sets and drives which are, subsequent
to the skin packaging, inserted into metal tool boxes or equivalent
structures for display and sale.
In accordance with the practice of the invention, the skin packed
assembly does not require a tool box floor area which exceeds to
any substantial extent the actual floor area occupied by the tool
elements themselves. That is, the necessity of accommodating
peripheral sealing zones extending beyond the actual area occupied
by the tool elements has been obviated.
A related object of the invention is that the tool elements of the
skin pack will, upon removal of the packaging film, fit precisely
in the metal tool box provided, with precision and organization,
there being no unnecessary, superfluous space. The final article
consisting of the tools in combination with the tool box is not
only functionally precise, but is neat in appearance both prior to
and after removal of the skin packaging.
It is a related feature of the invention that the tool components
set forth for display in the tool box fit snugly within the box, in
the skin packed state of the assembly as well as when the
disposable components of the skin packaging are discarded.
It will be readily appreciated that the improved packaging assembly
of the present invention has all of the advantages heretofore
associated with skin packaged displays, and, in addition, the
advantage of important space saving, as well as enhanced
appearance.
It has invariably been the practice in the prior art in carrying
out skin packing, that the bonded overlying transparent sheet
material engages the backing member in a zone which extends
laterally about the entire periphery of the article encased so that
the backing member projects well beyond the actual physical limit
of the article or articles themselves. In accordance with the
practice of the present invention, objectionable extravagance and
space wasting are avoided.
Other and further objects, features, and advantages of the
invention will become evident upon a reading of the following
specification taken in conjunction with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a socket set and drive bars skin
packed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of a portion of the package
assembly of the invention illustrating the manner in which the
floor sheet, with the shrink film bonded thereto, is folded
underneath to underlie the baseboard;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the skin package of FIG. 1
displayed in a tool box;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the lines
4--4 of FIG. 3 and showing the close spatial correspondence between
the tool element, packaged in accordance with the invention, and
the containing tool box;
FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the package assembly of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is an end view of the floor sheet and the underlying
baseboard in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 6a is an enlarged fragmentary view of the encircled portion of
FIG. 6, showing the overlying floor sheet extending laterally
beyond the underlying baseboard;
FIG. 7 is an end elevational view illustrating the placement of
tool components on the floor sheet of the package of the invention,
in a zone overlying the baseboard;
FIG. 8 is an end elevational view similar to that depicted in FIG.
7, but illustrating the placement and secured attachment of a
transparent plastic sheet over the tool elements and bonded to the
floor sheet in accordance with the invention;
FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate two successive stages in the packaging
method of the invention whereby the peripheral margin of the floor
sheet, with the shrink film bonded thereto, is folded around and
under the baseboard to provide the composite, space-saving assembly
of the invention; and
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the packaged assembly
of FIG. 10.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The aims and objects of the invention are accomplished by providing
in a tool package of the "skin-pack" type, a novel floor-like
support for the tools, the support being characterized in that the
marginal portions to which the transparent film of the skin pack
has been bonded are turned under the assembly so as to effect a
material saving in space. The invention has particular utility in
that type of package in which the skin pack assembly is housed in a
tool box or carrying case of metal construction, or the like.
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1, 2,
5 and 7, there is shown one preferred embodiment of the packaging
assembly of the invention provided for illustrative purposes and
not to be construed in any limiting sense. The composite assembly
20, ready for insertion into a tool box or carrying case 24 (FIG.
3), is shown in FIG. 1 as including a plurality of tool elements
30, consisting, in the specific example shown, of a socket set 34,
a ratchet handle 36, a drive handle 40, special adapters 42, and a
socket-retaining organizer 46. The tool elements are arranged to
occupy substantially the entire surface area overlying a baseboard
or backing panel 50 which may be of cardboard composition, plastic,
or any other suitable material having the requisite firmness and
rigidity.
Interposed between the baseboard 50 and the tool elements 30 is a
floor sheet 54 (FIG. 7). The floor sheet 54 extends laterally
beyond the baseboard 50 at opposed parallel side edges 56 and 58 of
the baseboard 50 so that the extending or projecting portions of
the floor sheet 54 define a pair of flanges 62 and 64 extending
marginally along the floor sheet 50 and outwardly of the opposed
side edges 56 and 58 of the baseboard 50, along the length
thereof.
As indicated in FIG. 8, with the tool elements 30 positioned in
place on the floor sheet 54 in a zone overlying the areal expanse
of the baseboard 50, a cover film 70 of thin transparent plastic
sheet material is superimposed over the tool elements 30 and
brought into contact with to bond to the laterally extending
flanges 62 and 64 of the floor sheet 54. Applying film shrinking
techniques of the type well known in the art, the plastic film 70
is subjected to heat and vacuum so that the film 70 is shaped and
formed snugly to engage the tool elements and to secure the latter
fixed in place on the floor 54 and base 50 elements.
In order to ensure and to facilitate the "encasement," the
sandwiched baseboard 50 and overlying floor sheet 54 are provided
with a plurality of die-cut through slots 80 as an aid to the
evacuation of air from the tool-containing chamber 84 bounded by
the floor sheet 54 and the overlying plastic film 70 so that the
film may be effectively drawn into close and confining contact with
the tool elements 30.
With the plastic film 70 shrunken about the tool elements 30, and
with the borders 88 and 90 of the film 70 bonded to the marginal
flanges 62 and 64 of the floor sheet 54, the flanges 62 and 64 are
bent downwardly about fold lines delineated by the ends 56 and 58
of the baseboard 50 (FIG. 9), and folded to underlie the baseboard
50 against the undersurface 94 thereof in substantial contiguous
relationship therewith, as indicated schematically in FIG. 10.
With the tool components 30 secured in place by the shrink film 70,
and the floor sheet 54, to which the transparent film 70 has been
bonded, having been folded under the supporting baseboard 50 of the
composite assembly, the assembly is conveniently placed in a tool
box or carrying case 100 which may be fabricated of sheet metal or
any other preferred structural material, typically as illustrated
in FIG. 3.
It will be appreciated upon consideration of the above set forth
description, in conjunction with the illustrative drawings, that
the tool assembly of the invention occupies a minimal space and
that, upon removal of the skin packing film by the purchaser of the
article, the various tool components will occupy, in the tool box
100, essentially the same spaces or locations, and in the same
arrangement, as when secured in the skin packing. Conversely, it is
possible, in accordance with the present invention, to provide a
metal tool box which has a floor area corresponding essentially to
the minimal floor area required for accommodating the tool elements
themselves, with no additional "waste" space for accommodating
peripheral seal flange areas. Since the seals of the present
invention bond over a substantial area (folded under the
baseboard), the final assembly has a high degree of structural
stability and physical security and is not subject to premature
failure during handling or during the "display" period of use. In
any display presentation such as that indicated in FIG. 3, the
individual tool elements are protected, to some degree, against
pilferage. Additionally, the tool elements are maintained in an
organized arrangement, which is aesthetically pleasing and sales
promoting.
While the present invention has been described with respect to a
preferred embodiment and with reference to specific structural
materials, and an illustrative application, the invention is not to
be narrowly construed. For example, while the supporting substrate
on which the tools are located has been described as consisting of
a baseboard and an overlying floor sheet, it is contemplated that a
single element may be used if preferred. Such an alternative
arrangement would be facilitated by providing the supporting sheet
with prescored fold lines to facilitate the underfolding of the
lateral flanges after the heat seal or bonding operation has been
completed. Also, while the baseboard and the overlying floor sheet
have been described as constructed of cardboard or paperboard, it
is evident that other structural materials including plastic may be
equally suitable. The overlying film may be any of various plastic
compositions including cellulose, vinyl plastics or polyalkylenes
such as polyethylene. The mode of securement of the cover film may
be by conventional heat-sealing bonding techniques or may be
through the application of pressure in combination with other
securement expedients such as adhesives.
From the foregoing, it is to be understood that the package
assembly of the invention is capable of modifications and that such
modifications may be made without departure from the spirit and
scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *